Handle for screw drivers and other hand tools



Aug. 14, 1951 A. E. DIANDA HANDLE FOR SCREW DRIVERS AND OTHER HAND TOOLS2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 14, 1944 INVENTOR. fizzw ZDz'czna aMIC W Aug. 14, 1951 DlANDA HANDLE FOR SCREW DRIVERS AND OTHER HAND TOOLSOriginal Filed Aug. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

.Aawamysr Patented Aug. 14, .1951

HANDLE FOR scaew DRIVERS AND- omen DTO OLS

Arthur E. Dianda, New York, N. Y.

Substituted for abandoned application, Serial No.

549,419, August 14, 1944. This application November 12, 1948, Serial No.59,456

This invention relates to new. and useful improvements in rotary-headhandles for screw drivers and other hand tools.

This is a substitute for my abandoned appliwhen the screw driver is inuse, the two parts being adapted to be held by different parts ,of theusers body.

Still further it is proposed to provide a handle as aforesaid havingfriction, roller or ball bearings between the parts and means securingthe parts against accidental separation but permitting them to bedisconnected when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a screw driverwith a handle as aforesaid having a ratchet permitting the handle to beturned by either part, the screw driver-shaft upper end being capped bythe top part and exposed when the top part is removed.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the Objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of'the invention are more particularly set forth.I

In the accompanying drawings 'forming a material. part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a. screw driver constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an axial section through the screw driver. 1

Fig. 3 is an axial section through a screw driver constructed inaccordance with a modification of this invention, the screw drivershaftbeing shown in full.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the top part of the screwdriver shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 5-'-.5 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line G-6 of Fig; 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary axial section of a handieconstructed .inaccordance with a 'modi-' fication of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary axial section of a handle constructed inaccordance with a modification of this invention. i

Fig; 9 is a fragmentary axial section of a handle constructed inaccordance with a modification of this invention.

"Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of a portion of 1 Claim. (Cl. 14550) ascrew driver employing either of the handles of Figs. 7-9.

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a handleconstructed in accordance with a modification of this invention, twotools being indicated in dot-dash lines. I} I The screw driver,according to this invention, comprises a shaft l0 shaped at its lowerend for insertion in the slot of a screw head. Shaft I0 is secured atits upper end in a roto-head handle including body II, which may be, forinstance, cast of plastic around the upper end of the shaft, the shafthaving wings I 2 preventing it from turning in the body. The lower endof the body is conical and covered by a cap I3.

An axial bore I4 is formed in the top of the body and a roller bearingraceway groove i5 is formed in its top face around the bore I4. A1

normally stationary cap member I6 is disposed on top of the body H andhas a pin l1 extended into the bore I l and a ball bearing racewaygroove l8 in its bottom face in line with groove l5. Ball bearings 19are disposed in the grooves, frictionlessly supporting the member 16 onthe body H.

Pin I1 is formed with longitudinal flutes 2D aiding in securing itfirmly in the cap member It. At the lower end of the pin I] there is anannular groove 2|. A set screw 22 is screwed in a threaded orifice 23 inthe body II and has its inner end rounded and disposed in the groove 2l, holding the cap member l6 rotatably on body II but permitting theirseparation upon removal of the set screw 22.

The operation of the screw driver is as follows:

The person using the screw driver can bear against the cap member [Bwit-h his hand or with the pit of his stomach, thereby pressing theshaft l0 firmly against the screw to be turned. With his other hand hecan turn the body H, thereby turning the screw. The ball bearings permitthe body It to be rotated relative to the cap member l6 even thoughgreat pressure is exerted on the cap member IS. the cap member It can beremoved for'cleaning or replacement of the ball bearings [9 by removingthe set screw 22; This set screwpermits the rotation of the body I Irelative to the cap member l6 as it fits with clearance all around inthe groove 2|. As the cap member [6 is held stationary and is externallysmooth, it prevents blisters from being caused. The roto-head handle,while shown as part of a screw driver, may be employed with other typesof tools.

A screw driver constructed in accordance with When desired,

a modification of this invention is shown in Figs. 3-6, and itdistinguishes from the screw driver of Figs. l-2 in that the shaft 10extends through and beyond the top of the body ll. Body II has a flattop face on which is disposed a ball bearing raceway or cage l holdingball bearings IS.

The upper end of the shaft is provided with a row of ratchet teeth 24,one of which is extended, by means of a groove 25, to the top of theshaft ID. The cap member [6 has a central bore 26 in which the upper endof the shaft I0 is disposed and a spring steel detent or drive.

strip 21 is secured in the member IS with its inner end extending intothe bore 26. The wall of bore 26 at one side of strip 21 is cut out, asis clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 providing a flared recess 28permitting the inner end of strip 2! to bend, permitting the teeth 24 toidle past the detent when the body II and the shaft l0 are turned in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, relative to the cap member [6'and the detent 21. This inner end of strip 21 is adapted to coact withthe ratchet teeth 24 in driving relation when the cap member [6' isturned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, carrying the shaftI0 and the body H with it.

The operation of this form of device is as follows:

The screw driver ma be employed exactly as was the screw driver of Figs.1-2, that is to say, the cap member I6 held stationary while the body II is rotated, when a screw is being screwed into an object. During suchoperation, the ratchet teeth 24 merely idle past the free end of thedetent 21. However, when the body II and the cap member I6 are grippedas a unit, the detent. 21 engages the ratchet teeth 24 locking the partsH and I6 together against any possible relative rotation when the screwdriver is being used to turn screws or the like into a piece of wood orsimilar material without pressure against the cap member [6.

Furthermore, the detent 21 looks the cap member IE to the body llagainst axial separation except when the detent 2'! is disposed in theratchet tooth 24 that opens into the groove 25. Member Hi may be removedfrom body II when the detent 21 is in ratchet tooth 24 that opens intothe groove by lifting the cap memher [6' relative to the body II.

The removel of the cap member l6 exposes the top of the shaft ID. Thisaffords the added advantage that the user of the screw driver can hammerthe top of the shaft I0 when necessary to start a stubborn screw or toclean out the slot of a screw when it is clogged with paint or othersubstance. The advantage of being able to hit the shaft ID directinstead of hitting the top of the cap member I6 is that the member l6wont become broken or disfigured and the body H will not be loosened onthe shaft [0.

The embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 1-6 show simple types ofroto-heads applied to screw drivers, it being understood that they maybe applied to other types of tools. In Figs. 7-10 other types ofroto-heads are shown which are also especially adapted for use withscrew drivers, but ma be used with other types of tools. Theseroto-heads are quite similar to each other but distinguish from eachother mainly in that the roto-head of Fig. 7 is especially adapted forfriction bearings, of Fig. 8 is especially adapted for roller bearingsand of Fig. 9 is especially adapted for ball bearings. The handle 4parts of these rote-heads may be made of plastic which is cast aroundthe metal parts thereof.

The roto-head shown fragmentally in Fig. '7, constructed in accordancewith a further modification of this invention is a surface bearingrotohead adapted for oil lubrication. It includes a stationary capmember 36 in which is threaded a stud 3i having a surface bearing plate32 and a pin 33. The pin 33 is formed with an annular groove 34 in itslower end. A projection 35 on the cap member 33 extends into a recess inthe plate 32 holding these two parts against relative rotation. Theroto-head further has a body 36 formed with an axial bore in which ismounted a surface bearing plate 31 having a threaded cylindrical portion38.

A projection 39 on body 36 extends into a recess in the plate 31preventing relative rotation therebetween. A look ring holder 40 isdisposed in the bottom of the bore of the body 36 and is held therein bya force fit. 'Asplit lock ring 4| is disposed between the top of theholder 40 and a shoulder 36* formed on the inner face of the cylindricalportion 38 and engages the groove 34 of the pin 33, when the pin isinserted into the cylindrical portion 38 to removably rotatively attachthe cap member 30 to the body 36. The member 30 has a skirt 42overhanging the body 36, as is clearly shown in Fig. '7. e

The operation of this roto-head is similar to that above described. Thelock ring 4l permits the pin 33 to be pulled axially out of the body 36separating the cap member 30 from the body 36. The surface plates 32 and31 contact each other and may be lubricated so that they rotate relativeto each other more easily. The oil flows into the body bore andlubricates the pin 33.

The roto-head shown fragmentally in Fig. 8, constructed in accordancewith another modification of this invention, is a roller-bearing typeroto-head, adapted for grease packed lubrication. It distinguishes fromthe rote-head shown in Fig. '7 in that it has roller bearings 43 betweenthe bearing plates 32' and 31. Other parts corresponding to similarparts of the roto-head of Fig. 7 are indicated by like referencesprimed.

The roto-head shown fragmentall in Fig. 9, constructed in accordancewith still another modification of this invention, is a ball bearingtype roto-head adapted for grease packed lubrication. It distinguishesfrom the roto-head of Fig. 8 in that the pin 33" has an annular groove44 above its groove 34" and the body bearing plate 31" is madeseparately from the cylindrical portion The cylindrical portion 38" hasa shoulder above the locking ring 4|" similar to the shoulder of theroto-heads of Figs. 7 and 8 and a similar shoulder 45 below a lockingring 46 disposed in the groove 44. The adjacent surfaces of the bearingplates are provided with ball bearing raceways 41 in which are disposedball bearings 48.

The wear'p1ate31" of the body 36" is separated from the cylindricalportion 38" and merely rests in a complementary cavity formed in the topof the body 36 and against the top end of the cylindrical portion 33 asshown in Fig. 9. Fric tional contact between the adjacent faces of thewear plate 31" and the complementary cavity in the body 36" will retainthe wear plate 31" against rotation in the assembled position shown.

merely freely projected into the top of the cylindrical portion 38" butbears against the bottom face of the wear plate 31". Thus, when the capmember 30 is separated from the body 36" by pulling axially upwardsthereon, the pin 33" will move upwards in the cylindrical portion 38"away from the lock-ring 4!". At the same time, the lock ring 46 movesout of the top end of the cylindrical portion 38" and as it bearsagainst the bottom face of the wear plate 3'!" it forces the wear plate3?" out of its complementary cavity in the top of the bod 36" causingthe Wear plate 31" to be separated from the body 36" as a unit with thecap member 30. Thus, the wear plates 32" and 31 are held togetherpreventing the ball bearings 48 from escaping from between the adjacentfaces thereof when the cap member 30" is removed from the body 36".Should it, for some reason, be desirable to separate the wear plates 32"and 31" it is merely necessary to remove the lock ring 46 permitting thewear plate 32" to be slipped OK the free end of the pin 33".

The cylindrical portion 38" is formed with knurling 52 at its peripheryto prevent twisting. The cylindrical portion 38 may be cylindrical,rectangular or of any other shape in cross section.

The three roto-heads of Figs. 7-9 have several common features. One isthat each of the pins has external helical lubricating grooves 5|.Another is that the lock rings snap into place when the stationary capmember is pushed into position on the body member and similarly areforced back out of the way when the stationary cap member is pulled awayfrom the body member to permit separation for cleaning and lubrication,or for replacement of worn ball or roller bearings. Each of the threeroto-heads may have an outside appearance as shown in Fig. 10.

The roto-head shown in Fig. 11 is a socket wrench roto-handle. It is tobe used with a socket set extension bar A or socket wrench bar handle B,indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 11. When used with a socketextension bar it is placed on one end of the bar, the roto-head beingequipped with a hexagonal recess 49 in its bottom for this purpose. Thesocket to be used is placed on the other end of the bar. The rote-headis also provided with a hexagonal side recess 50 for use with a socketWrench bar handle. The rote-head may otherwise be constructed likeeither of the three roto-heads of Figs. 7-9.

While the rote-heads have been described as being formed of metal partsaround which plastic has been cast, it is obvious that the roto-headsmay be made of other suitable materials such as wood or metal.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

A screw driver comprising a shaft having an end adapted to coact withthe slotted head of a screw, a bod secured on said shaft intermediateits ends, the other end of said shaft projecting above said body, a ballbearing assemblage disposed on the top face of said body surroundingsaid shaft, a cap member have an axial bore mounted on said projectionof said shaft and resting on said ball bearing assemblage, saidprojection having a ring of ratchet teeth, and a ratchet detent in saidcap member coacting with said teeth, one of said teeth being in linewith a groove opening through the top end of said projection for slidingremoval and assemblage of said ratchet detent with said teeth.

ARTHUR E.-DIANDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 320,920 Farrand June 30, 1885687,401 Morse Nov. 26, 1901 811,305 Leblanc Jan. 30, 1906 858,131Aichele June 25, 1907 861,010 Zeman July 23, 1907 1,163,500 Ball Dec. 7,1915 1,309,715 Barton July 15, 1919 1,337,205 Dingman Apr. 20, 19201,388,922 Bullard Aug. 30, 1921 1,772,040 Dunlea Aug. 5, 1930 1,816,359Carlin July 28, 1931 2,476,617 Mueller July 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 209,228 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1924

